Mental Health and Wellness Graduate Certificate With Grief and Bereavement Emphasis
Specialize in Grief and Bereavement With GCU’s Mental Health and Wellness Certificate Program
At Grand Canyon University (GCU), the Graduate Certificate in Mental Health and Wellness with an Emphasis in Grief and Bereavement program supports mental health professionals in expanding their career with a specialization in grief and bereavement. As a student, you will have the opportunity to gain knowledge and an in-depth understanding of dying and death, loss and bereavement within the context of mental health and wellness.
This online program introduces you to research and best practices of mental health and wellness when working with the bereaved and those affected by loss. Study concepts of human nature as it relates to cognitive, behavioral, interpersonal, mental, spiritual, family and social dynamics. This mental health certificate with grief and bereavement emphasis is designed to build upon the expertise of licensed mental health professionals and does not lead to additional licensure.
With a focus in this area, therapists, counselors, psychologists, social workers and health professionals help individuals cope with personal loss of a loved one and move on toward a positive adjustment. Equipped with a graduate certificate in mental health and wellness with grief and bereavement emphasis, you can serve as a support system guiding individuals through the grieving process, from mourning and deep negative emotions to acceptance of a new reality and resilience.
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Develop Skills to Counsel Others Through Emotional Recovery
Experiencing the death of a loved one is one of the most difficult human experiences to endure. Adopting this specialty prepares you to play a role in the emotional recovery of others and enhance their ability to:
- Express and get in touch with feelings and thoughts
- Work toward restoring normalcy in their lives
- Bring memories from the past to present
- Develop a new sense of self
- Move forward
As a Christian university, GCU promotes supportive learning experiences with a faith-oriented approach. Students learn from a curriculum rooted in the Christian worldview. Thus, as a grief and bereavement student, you will be taught to serve with kindness, compassion, empathy and ethical decision making.
A Mental Health Certificate That Incorporates Grief and Bereavement Specialty Courses
Learn about coping techniques and behavioral strategies that aid those grieving in overcoming complications, such as unresolved issues, prolonged mourning, a preoccupation with the death of a loved one and depressive symptoms.
This four-course, 16-credit certificate in wellness and mental health with grief and bereavement studies program emphasizes the following competencies:
- Explanation of grief recovery theories and models
- Assessment of how worldview, culture, spirituality and religion impact the grieving process
- Evaluation of how diverse types of loss and individual differences affect grieving
- Development of strategies designed for those grieving at different life stages and affected by various circumstances
While in the mental health and wellness certificate with emphasis in grief counseling program, you will engage with these areas of study:
- History of grief research, common and shared experiences related to death, various forms of loss and unique characteristics of those grieving
- The journey of the bereaved, biopsychosocial responses, myths, and an examination of healthy and unhealthy coping mechanisms
- Concept of death in society, research, theories and case studies on the sociocultural dimensions of dying, end-of-life issues and grief management
- How culture, spirituality and society shape our understanding and experience of death, as well as an understanding of the factors that influence views of death
Explore Career Options in Mental Health and Wellness
This graduate certificate in mental health and wellness with grief and bereavement emphasis can build upon your existing skills as a mental health professional. Having competencies in grief and bereavement can benefit those in the following positions:
- Therapists
- Counselors
- Psychologists
- Social workers
- Community health outreach and program specialists
- Community center coordinator
Mental Health and Wellness Certificate With Grief and Bereavement Emphasis FAQs
If you are a mental health professional who is interested in specializing in grief and bereavement, read our answers to these frequently asked questions about earning your mental health certificate online with grief and bereavement emphasis:
The mental health certificate with emphasis in grief and bereavement program’s online courses are designed to enhance the skills of mental health professionals, particularly in the areas of grief and bereavement. Whether you are looking to add expertise to your current position or you have a special interest in helping those who are dealing with loss, earning a grief counseling certificate online can help you with your career goals.
At GCU, the mental health certificate program’s online courses are created for professionals already working in the fields of psychology, counseling, social work and health services. Every course in the program is offered through our innovative online learning platform, allowing working professionals to build their skill set in grief and bereavement on a more flexible schedule.
The graduate certificate in wellness and mental health with grief and bereavement emphasis at GCU requires 16 credits to completion. Each online course is eight weeks in length and can be completed on your schedule. Earning a certificate can help you build specific skills in less time than a full degree program.
Core Courses
Course Description
This course covers the history of grief theory research. It investigates common experiences of individuals experiencing a loss. The various forms of loss and the unique characteristics of grievers are examined. Resources for grief and bereavement are covered.
Course Description
This course reviews typical biopsychosocial responses to grief and loss. It Identifies and eliminates myths surrounding the grief process and thoroughly examines healthy and unhealthy ways of coping with loss. The course looks at grief from the shared experience of family and community.
Course Description
This course introduces the concept of death in society. Students examine research, theories, and case studies on the sociocultural dimensions of death and dying with a focus on end of life issues and grief management.
Course Description
This course explores how culture, spirituality, and society shape our understanding and experience of death and dying. While grief and loss are universal, how they are conceptualized and practiced around the world are largely determined by the confluence of these factors. Students become aware of how each of these overlapping areas have influenced their own views of death and dying as well as grasp a deeper understanding of others who are grieving.
Pursue a next-generation education with an online degree from Grand Canyon University. Earn your degree with convenience and flexibility with online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere.
* Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change.